There are many ways that good energy management mitigates risk, from reducing vulnerability to volatile costs and uncertain supplies to improving your company’s public image and promoting employee morale and loyalty. One of my favorite ways is using energy monitoring to find savings opportunities, and the same monitoring system often also can reduce risk by identifying overstressed equipment and incipient failures. Here are a few examples from the field. Read More >>

By building the connection between the design/engineering process and the operation/maintenance stages of the process plant lifecycle, this collaboration promises to be a step in the right direction for constructing and operating more sustainable facilities. Read More >>

The Copper Development Association (CDA) has worked with government and industry-based motor experts to develop and offer a comprehensive three-part Motor Management Program. Part 1 involves creating a motor inventory and developing repair and replacement guidelines.Read More >>

Three R’s aren’t enough, says the Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing (ISM) at the University of Kentucky. ISM invents innovative products, processes, systems and technologies, and transfers them to industry through extension and outreach programs. Read More >>

In honor of World Water Day this infographic from GE’s water business illustrates a day in the life of a water droplet, highlighting how everyone, from industrial facilities to American households, use water and how we can improve our water conservation efforts. Read More >>

Rather than focusing on packaging weight reductions, the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN) suggests a more comprehensive approach that considers the combined economic, environmental and social impacts of both packages and the products they contain. Read More >>

A recent RAND study finds U.S. manufacturing vulnerable to disruptions of supplies of critical materials from other countries, and that China produces more than 50 percent of 11 such materials. The study also identifies two courses of actions that may diminish vulnerability. Read More >>

Although it often produces lower yields on land that has recently been farmed conventionally, organic farming uses up to 50 percent less fossil fuel energy than conventional farming. It also stabilizes soils and improves water retention, reducing vulnerability to harsh weather patterns. Read More >>

Ever since the late 1970s, when the first energy crisis hit the United States, manufacturing companies have been finding ways to reduce energy usage. More recently, to save even more money and become ever more “green,” they have been looking for ways to reduce water usage. In fact, for companies in some regions of the country, water is such as scarce resource that they are reducing water usage primarily for that reason. Read More >>

Sustainability Infographics

We here at Sustainable Plant love infographics. Aside from being easy to read and geniously designed, they are also incredible resources to have on hand, ready to share with others. With this in mind we've put together a collection some of our favorites from around the web. Check them out, pass them along and let us know if you have any other infographics you'd like us to share with the community. View the gallery

Green or Green Wash?

The company’s Acme electrical devices meet criteria established by the company for its Eco-Certified designation. Demonstrating its commitment for a better, cleaner environment, a company has developed an eco-certification designation for a variety of its industrial products, including the company’s entire line of Acme electrical devices. The company’s Acme electrical devices meet criteria established by the company for its Eco-Certified designation:
The devices have a positive impact on…